Explore the Family Name Commander
The meaning of Commander
1. English: from Middle English comander, comando(u)r ‘leader, ruler’, probably applied as a nickname, although it may also derived from Old French comandeor, denoted the officer in charge of a commandery, for example of the Knights Templars, and in this sense it would have been an occupational or status name. 2. Possibly also an Americanized form of German Kommander: cognate of 1 above, perhaps used instead of Hoffmann.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Commander in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Commander" saw a slight increase between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname rose from 18,847 to 18,703, marking a change of 0.76%. The count of individuals bearing this surname also went up from 1,342 in 2000 to 1,469 in 2010, indicating an increase of about 9.46%. However, the proportion of people with this surname per 100k remained constant at 0.5 throughout these years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,847 | #18,703 | 0.76% |
| Count | 1,342 | 1,469 | 9.46% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Commander
Regarding the ethnic identity of those carrying the surname "Commander", the Decennial U.S. Census data shows some shifts between 2000 and 2010. White individuals made up the majority of people with this surname, but decreased from 65.05% to 59.50%, a change of -8.53%. Black individuals accounted for 29.81% in 2000 and increased to 34.79% in 2010. The percentage of Hispanics grew by 33.51% while the share of Asian/Pacific Islanders fell by 15.73%. The representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives also declined by 28.17%, while the count of people identifying as two or more races increased by 52.81%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65.05% | 59.5% | -8.53% |
| Black | 29.81% | 34.79% | 16.71% |
| Hispanic | 1.94% | 2.59% | 33.51% |
| Two or More Races | 0.89% | 1.36% | 52.81% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.42% | 1.02% | -28.17% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.89% | 0.75% | -15.73% |